Rubbish men’s drinks

Press, 15 November 1984, Page 12

Rubbish men’s drinks

Sir,—As an individual concerned in the recent strike by Christchurch City Council rubbish collectors I would clarify some of the statements made to the news media by the council’s deputy general manager, Mr Harold Surtees. There was no misunderstanding on the part of the rubbish men on the question of cordials. The council decided that we could not have cordials and some of the ridiculous reasons were “bad for you,” “too sweet,” arguments of what flavours, and "other workers don’t have cordial.” Coffee is provided but has to be drunk before the starting time of 7.15 a.m. and to my knowledge we have never had vacuum flasks; certainly not in the last two years. Does Mr Surtees think it is unreasonable to have a drink in the course of working at the run for up to five hours and over 12 tonnes of rubbish to a truck? The council has once again tried,to come up smelling roses, while the rubbish men have to carry the can. — Yours, etc., P. J. WRIGHT. November 1, 1984. [Mr J. H. Gray, the General Manager and Town Clerk, Christchurch, replies: “Neither Mr Surtees nor his staff believe it at all unreasonable for those involved in the strenuous business of collecting rubbish to have a cordial drink available to them. Arrangements have been made accordingly. I do not think the other matters raised can be effectively resolved by discussion through the newspaper. Mr Surtees would be happy to talk with Mr Wright or his union representative at any time if he believes the matter has not beerf dealt with hj .